Chipping Norton man jailed for trying to cause miscarriage

Jason Pritchard

A man from Chipping Norton has been sentenced to two years’ imprisonment for procuring pills to cause a miscarriage.

James George, 45, of Oxford Road, Old Chalford, was sentenced at Swindon Crown Court last Friday after he pleaded guilty to one count of procuring a poison/noxious thing to cause a miscarriage at a hearing at Oxford Magistrates’ Court on February 22.

The victim and offender were in a relationship when the victim became pregnant in August 2014. The offender changed his mind about wanting a family but the victim made it clear that she wanted to keep the baby.

Despite this, George ordered ‘abortion pills’ three times from the internet and had them delivered to his home.

George was arrested on October 13 2014 and was charged with the offence on January 6 of this year.

Det Con Jane Tregurtha, from Oxfordshire Domestic Abuse Investigation Unit, said: “George put the victim under a lot of pressure to have a termination. He went to great lengths, researching abortion websites, phoning clinics and took the victim to her GP to discuss a termination.

“Despite her telling him that she wanted to keep her baby, George bought ‘abortion pills’ online. He stated he intended to give them to the victim once he had persuaded her to change her mind about a termination.

“Very sadly the victim lost her baby in October 2014. I hope the sentence enables her to have a sense of closure following this difficult and deeply distressing time in her life.”

George was also issued with an indefinite restraining order to prevent contact with the victim.